20 Most Recent Nikon F3HP 35mm SLR Camera Questions & Answers

Water damage to the shutter speed dial, or poor contact in its flex connector, can cause this.

I'm interested in this as well. Just installed fresh batteries, light meter says 1/80 in all shutter settings faster than 1/60 (otherwise it shows the correct setting). Since 1/80 is the flash sync speed, it may be that the camera thinks there's a flash attached. But it is not...
Strange thing is that one time (I tried a couple of times today) the light meter worked correctly; it showed other timings and they changed as I turned the aperture ring...

Take out the old roll and put in a new one :-)

Basic Operations start on page 6 of the manual you can download from
http://butkus.org/chinon/nikon/nikon_f3/nikon_f3.htm
The illustrated instructions do a much better job of describing the process than I could.

The manual is for the F3, but the only difference between the F3 and the F3HP is the viewfinder. The F3HP allows you to see the entire viewfinder image from an inch from the viewfinder, making it more usable by those who wear glasses.

Check your battery contacts for signs of corrosion.

This won\'t be easy for you if you don\'t the proper tools, You have to remove the wind lever assy, and the speed dial, Then wind side top cover, Then pull wind base plate assy, And check counter reset lever, to make sure spring didn\'t come loose, Putting the baseplate back on can be fun because of linkage to the wind assy

what lens is mounted? the lcd is lighted through the "white glass" just below the on (of Nikon). If a large (thick) lens is mounted, this might block the light from shining through this window?

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try a small eyeglass screwdriver

The cap over the film advance lever screws off, counter-clockwise. 4 cross point screws to remove the lever and retaining plate. Then you need some fine point needle nose pliers to remove the ring that holds the on/off switch in place. You can file a cheap pair of pliers down to make the tips small enough.

You need an AS-4 adapter, like this one:

Nikon AS-4 on eBay

Try Nikon directly as they still supply parts for the F3. Call them at 1-800-645-6687

It sounds like your Nikon FM may be experiencing a mechanical issue with the shutter mechanism. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Inspect the Film Advance Mechanism: Check the film advance lever and mechanism to ensure they are functioning properly. Make sure there are no obstructions or debris interfering with the movement of the advance lever.
2. Check the Shutter Release Button: Inspect the shutter release button to see if it's sticking or malfunctioning. Sometimes, a stuck or sticky shutter release button can cause the shutter to fire unintentionally.
3. Examine the Mirror Mechanism: Carefully inspect the mirror mechanism to see if there are any visible signs of damage or misalignment. If the mirror is flipping up unexpectedly, there may be an issue with the mechanism that controls its movement.
4. Clean and Lubricate: If the camera hasn't been serviced in a while, it's possible that dirt, dust, or dried lubricant may be causing the issue. Consider cleaning the internal components of the camera and applying a small amount of appropriate lubricant to the moving parts (be cautious and follow proper procedures when lubricating a camera).
5. Seek Professional Repair: If the issue persists after attempting basic troubleshooting, it's advisable to have the camera inspected and repaired by a qualified camera technician. They can diagnose the problem more accurately and perform any necessary repairs or adjustments to restore the camera to proper working condition.
6. Use a Different Lens: Sometimes, issues with the lens can affect the camera's operation. Try using a different lens to see if the problem persists. If the issue only occurs with a specific lens, there may be a problem with that particular lens.

It's essential to handle the camera with care during troubleshooting, especially when accessing internal components. If you're unsure about performing any repairs or adjustments yourself, it's best to seek professional assistance to avoid causing further damage to the camera.

Have you tried fresh batteries and setting the shutter speed dial to M90 or m250 whichever you have? If this does'nt work you can remove the camera bottom plate and gently pull a lever away from the advance cog. Some times things get out of sync in there. Sorry I can't be more specific but I did this many years ago. Good Luck.

There are youtube videos on this type of repair to DSLR cameras and I dont recommend that you try it unless you have incredible talent for small details and a very clean environment.

On many cameras, a lens error means the lens is not set to is highest f/stop such as f/16 f/22 and the like. The lens must be put in that mode for the camera so that the camera electronics can auto set the f/stop as needed. First thing I would do is look at the f/stop on lens with manual f/stop settings; such as the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D making sure it is set to the highest f/ number (smallest opening). Remove the lens check the dial. Also, is the battery fully charged? If all that is okay then do the following couple of things; 1. Get yourself a film change bag, they look like a black plastic/rubberish T-shirt. Put the camera in there make sure the bottom is fully closed, put your arms through the sleeves, they have elastic keeping light out. Open the camera carefully remove the film canister then using your fingers rewind the film back into the canister. 2. Okay, you do not have access to a film change bag, easy get a thick blanket or two, go in to a closet, close the door, put a towel at the bottom, cover your camera as best as you can then do the same as if you were using a change bag. Important, make sure you are in a completely dark place without ANY LIGHT working its way through to you. Next, being as your are using film, big congratulations for that, purchase a change bag from Adorama, Amazon, B&HPhoto. Every film shooter should have one. Hope the above helps you.

That is likely a job for an experienced repair technician, not for DIY.

Does the shutter operate when the back is closed? (In other words, does it expose the film?) If so, don't worry about it. If not, it may need service -- or it may be set at such a high shutter speed (1/2000, for instance) that makes the shutter open and close so quickly that you can't see it move.